Machine for topping sorghum



(No Modlel.)

, T. M. PADDOOK. MACHINE FOR TOPPING SORGHUM.

No. 592,164. Patented Oct. 19,1897.

W/kw 37' ATTORNEYS.

ihvirn STATES TRUMAN M. PADDOOK,

OF PEROIVAL, IOVA.

MACHINE FOR T QPPING SORGHUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,164, dated October 19, 1897.

Application filed June 15, 1896.'

State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Topping Sorghum, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 1

The object of my invention is to provide a device adapted for attachment to a wagon-- bed, which, as the wagon is drawn between rows of sorghum, will act to direct the tops of the sorghum over the bed of the wagon and cut the tops from the stalks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which will be simple, durable, and economic in its construction, and which may likewise be used for harvesting the ears of Kafir-corn.

The invention consists inthe novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device applied to a wagon-body, and Fig. 2 is a plan View of the wagon and applied device.

In carrying out the invention two uprights 10 are employed, of greater length than the height of the sides of the wagon-bodyto which the device is to be applied. These uprights are connected at the top by a wide cross-bar 11, which extends forwardly beyond the forward upright, and a short cross-bar 12, secured to the lower end portions of the aforesaid uprights, the attachment of the upper cross-bar being at the outer face of the uprights. Two clamping plates or boards 13 and 14 are used in connection with the uprights, one located near the top and the other near the bottom, and each plate or board 13 and 14, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a slot in each of its ends of such size and shape as to neatly receive the uprights.

The device is attached to the wagon-bed by means of an upper plank 1-5 and a lower plank 16. The upper plank extends across the top of the wagon-bed, and may be used as a seat and is attached to the upper clamping-plate 13, while the lower plank 16 extends across $erial No. 595,583. (No model.) i

the bottom of the wagon-body'and is attached to the lower clamping-plate 14:, and rods provided with suitable nuts are passed through the projecting ends of the top and bottom planks and through the clampingplates to which the planks or boards are secured. I

A bar 18 is attached to the upper portion of the rear upright of the device at the inner face of the same, and the said bar extends downward and forwardin direction of the forward end of the wagon-body, crossing the two uprights diagonally and extending beyond the forward upright a predetermined distance. The lower end of the diagonal bar 18 of the device is a predetermined distance above the top of the'wagon-body. A knife 19 is secured to the forward or free end of the diagonal bar 18, and the said knife is carried upward and attached at its opposite end to the upper portion of the forward upright 10 at the inner face of the same, as shown in Fig. 2. A spring-arm 20 is also secured to the free end of the diagonal bar 18, and this spring-arm is curved in direction of and closely approaches the side of the wagonbody, extending at the same time downwardly and forwardly. The arm 20 is adapted as a guide-arm, and is used in connection with a longer and main guide-arm 21, provided with a crank 22 at its inner end, and where the crank connect-s with the body of the main guide-arm 21 the said guide-arm is journaled in suitable bearings located upon the under projecting portion of the topcrossbar of the uprights, and the crank 22 will extend outside of the said cross-bar and may be sprung in engagement with the teeth of a rack 23,

secured on the cross-bar, as shown in both figures of the drawings, so that the main guide-arm 21 may be held in any .desired position.

The body portion of the main guide-arm 21 is curved outwardly. and forwardly away from the wagon-body, extending over the forward wheels and a predetermined distance beyond the front of the wagon-body, and crosses the spring guide-arm 20, as shown in Fig. 2. As the wagon is drawn forward, the sorghumtops will be directed by the two guide-arms 20 and 21, between which the stalks pass, to the knife 19, and as the tops of the sorghum will be bent over the knife to a certain degree the tops may be quickly severed from the stalks by the operator in the wagon-body simply holding the tops in engagement with the cutting edge of theknife, whereupon the sorghum-tops will drop into the wagon-body and the operator, using one hand to draw the tops over the knife, may use the other hand for laying the tops straight in the bed of the wagon. The main guide-arm 21 will direct any sorghum that may be out of line to the inner or spring guide-arm 20, and the latter will effectually prevent the sorghum-stalks from passing to the inside of the knife instead of the outside portion, as is necessary. In this manner there is no loss of the sorghumseed, and a row of sorghum may be topped both quickly and cleanly, and with comparatively little manual labor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters lat'enthe combination with a vehicle, of two uprights secured thereto, a cross-bar carried by the upper ends of the uprights and projecting forwardly of the forward upright, a diagonal supporting-bar secured to the rear upright and projecting forwardly past the forward upright, a knife carried by the front end of the supporting-bar and extending rearwardl y to the forward upright with which the knife is connected, a spring-arm secured to the front arm of the supporting-bar and pro jeetin g forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a guide-arm extending from its front end inward over the knife, then back transversely and across the knife, and finally rearward along the outer face of the cross-bar,the transverse portion of the guide-bar being pivoted to the cross-bar, and a rack carried by the cross-bar and coacting with the rear portion of the guide-bar to hold the guide-bar at the desired adjustment, substantially as described.

TRUMAN M. PADDOOK. lVitnesses:

II. XV. PARKISON, SAMUEL REED. 

